Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tickets, Rome

The Vatican is Italy's most popular attraction with almost five million visitors annually. Book your tickets in advance to avoid long lines and guarantee your entrance. Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums ticket: This ticket allows you to skip the long lines and independently visit the Vatican Museums and the magnificent Sistine Chapel. Night at the Vatican Museums: This ticket gives you an extraordinary opportunity to independently visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums after sunset. These are entrance tickets ONLY, but if you would like a guided tour, select our private tour OR our shared group tour.

Uffizi Gallery Tickets, Florence

The Uffizi is the world's oldest gallery and the most popular museum in Italy. In 1560, Cosimo I de' Medici commissioned Giorgio Vasari to design a building to house the Florentine State's administrative and judicial offices (known as the "Uffizi"). Much of the Uffizi's collection originally belonged to the Medici family, known as much for their patronage of the arts as for their role in the city government of Florence. The Uffizi houses the largest collection of Italy's artistic heritage consisting of thousands of works of art ranging from Greek and Roman sculptures to Renaissance and Baroque paintings. Its treasures include Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Titian's Venus of Urbino. Also available at Select Italy:Vasari Corridor & Uffizi Gallery: Group Guided Visit with Guaranteed Departure

Colosseum - Dungeons and Upper Tiers Tour, Rome

Take part in Rome's most exclusive cultural experience. Some unexplored areas of the Anfiteatro Flavio, better known as the "Colosseum," have been re-opened to the public, allowing small groups accompanied by a guide to view the underground chambers and upper levels of this world-famous monument. Ipogei is the name given to the underground dungeons and passageways where the ferocious lions and tigers were caged and the gladiators were prepared for battle. Here, both men and animals waited their turn before taking part in the bloody spectacle; a fascinating aspect of the visit to the Ipogei is seeing the elevators and lift platforms that were used to hoist them up to the arena floor. The upper level of the amphitheater has been closed since the 1970's. It comprises the monument's second and third tiers, and will be accessible to those who wish to enjoy a spectacular, bird's-eye view of the ancient Forum, the arch of Constantine and the monuments of Rome. Bronze pedestals, floors paved in brick, tile and cut stones laid in a herringbone pattern, marble statues and capitals, well preserved sarcophagi and smaller objects meant for daily use can be admired on this unforgettable, 1 1/2 hour tour that is sure to be the highlight of your visit to Rome! PLEASE NOTE that the entrance to the Palatine and the Roman Forum is included in the ticket fee, but they are not a part of the guided tour.

Night at the Colosseum, Rome

Take part in Rome's most extraordinary experience. From May 2nd until November 2nd, 2013 small groups accompanied by a guide will be allowed to view the Colosseum under the moonlight! This after-hours tour will make your visit to Rome unforgettable. It is available on Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:40PM, 9:10PM and 9:45PM. The guided tour lasts 1 hour and includes the tour of the Colosseum and of the Dungeons. However, the tour does NOT include the entrance to the Upper Tiers.

Colosseum and Roman Forum Pass, Rome

Any visit to Rome must include a visit to the ancient heart of the city, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Now it's possible to reserve entrance to all three sites with just one ticket and to skip the line! The price also includes One Select Italy Gift Certificate valued at $5. By far the wisest and most convenient reservation you can make for your trip to Rome, the Colosseum and Forum Pass allows you to skip lines at all three sites, visit at any time of day on your chosen date and stay in the sites as long as you like. In addition, all three sites are located just steps away from one another, allowing for easy touring. Please Note: Select Italy Gift Certificates have no inherent cash value and can only be redeemed once on Select Italy's website. Select Italy Gift Certificates are not transferable.

Accademia Gallery Tickets, Florence

In 1873, Michelangelo's famous statue of David was moved to a specially designed room in the Galleria dell'Accademia from his position out in front of Palazzo Vecchio, where he had stood since Michelangelo's time. Preparations were underway for an 1875 exhibition on Michelangelo to celebrate the great master's 400th birthday, after which the Accademia would become a museum dedicated to Michelangelo. Though the collection has since expanded to include works ranging from Florentine Gothic painting to Russian icons, as well as Italian Renaissance and Baroque works by Jacopo da Pontormo, Ghirlandaio, and others, it is still primarily known for Michelangelo's "White Giant." Come admire this incomparable masterpiece and see the four unfinished Slaves that Michelangelo started carving for the tomb of Pope Julius II.

The Last Supper Tickets, Milan

With Last Supper Guaranteed Reservation and Entrance Tickets you will be able to see Da Vinci's masterpiece, The Last Supper, in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The price also includes One Select Italy Gift Certificate valued at $5. IMPORTANT: Last Supper Guaranteed Tickets are available only for certain dates and times. If you find a date and time combination that is convenient for you, consider completing your purchase right away as ticket availability can quickly change. When in Milan, don't miss seeing the Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci! Please Note: Select Italy Gift Certificates have no inherent cash value and can only be redeemed once on Select Italy's website. Select Italy Gift Certificates are not transferable.

Borghese Gallery Tickets, Rome

After many years of restoration, the Galleria Borghese is once again inviting visitors to view the collection of masterpieces assembled in the 17th century by the great collector and patron of the arts, Cardinal Scipione Borghese. His passion and instinct for art led him to amass a unique collection that includes many Baroque masterpieces. Highlights of the collection are Gianlorenzo Bernini's marble sculpture groups of "Pluto and Persephone" and "Apollo and Daphne." The painting galleries contain Titian's "Sacred and Profane Love" and other great works by Caravaggio, Rubens, Raphael and Correggio. The Villa Borghese itself is a noteworthy example of a beautifully decorated and frescoed suburban villa, set in a vast park. Reservations are required in order to visit the museum.

Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries, Venice

Venice's premiere attraction, the Doge's Palace, offers a glimpse into the mysterious and opulent history of the Most Serene Venetian Republic. This 75-minute guided tour of the secret passageways is a unique way to see all of the palace's most famous rooms. Explore the palace's beautifully decorated council chambers and walk across the famous Bridge of Sighs into the New Prison; you'll also see the Torture Chamber and the two cells where Giacomo Casanova was locked up. Book your tickets here for an experience you won't soon forget!

Leonardo's Codex Atlanticus Combo Pass Milan

Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" (1495-97) is one of the most famous paintings in the world, but what many people don't realize is that the refectory wall on which Leonardo's masterpiece is painted is part of a much larger complex: the former Dominican monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The Renaissance church was partially rebuilt by Leonardo's colleague, Donato Bramante, to house the tombs of Duke Ludovico Sforza and his family. The great Lombard architect constructed the Tribune, the serene Chiostrino delle Rane ("Frog Cloister," named after the bronze frogs on the fountain) and the Sacristy. Bramante's frescoed and vaulted Sacristy has now been restored as an exhibition space and here, in homage to the extraordinary genius of Leonardo da Vinci, a changing selection of pages from the Codex Atlanticus is on display. No longer bound as a book, but still referred to by their former name, Codex, the 1,119 individual sheets of parchment were executed by Leonardo between 1478 and 1519. They range in subject from flight to weaponry to musical instruments and from mathematics to botany to astronomy and cosmology. These intricate and exquisite drawings, along with examples of Leonardo's famous "mirror writing," will be changed every four months throughout the year so that the artist's multifarious interests can be fully explored. Combined with the visit to the Sacristy and the exhibition of the Codex Atlanticus is a chance to see more than 20 original drawings and notes by Leonardo in the portion of the Codex kept in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana. Its paintings gallery, called the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, displays one of Leonardo's most beautiful and enigmatic portraits: the "Portrait of a Musician." This small painting of a soulful youth clutching a musical manuscript was one of the highlights of the recent Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the National Gallery in London. Caravaggio's stunning still life of a basket of just-decaying fruit and original cartoons by Raphael and Michelangelo are other must-see works in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana's rich collection.

Ancient Rome Archaeological Card, Rome

The perfect pass for Archaeology lovers! Ten monuments in the heart of Ancient Rome and on the Appia Antica -- all with prepaid tickets and no waiting in line. Enjoy the flexibility of an entrance ticket that is valid for an entire week for the most important archeological sites in Rome. The Rome Archaeology Card allows you to skip the lines at these museums and sites and is a great value, generating savings of up to 35%. Valid for seven days from the time of redemption, the Rome Card allows you to see sites like the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Rome's National Museum (housed in various palazzos throughout the city). The card allows entrance to the following ten sites around Rome: The Roman Forum Colosseum Palatine Hill and Museum The Palazzo Massimo (Rome National Museum) The Palazzo Altemps (Rome National Museum) The Crypta Balbi (Rome National Museum) The Baths of Diocletian (Rome National Museum) The Baths of Caracalla The Villa dei Quintili The Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella Please find below a short description of each site: The Roman Forum The heart of Rome's ancient public life and government began and ended here in the Roman Forum. Home of the famous Rostra and Via Sacra (or Sacred Way), the forum is now the place to visit the ruins of Ancient Senate buildings and triumphal arches. Palazzo Massimo Since 1998 the seat of the National Museum of Rome, the Palazzo Massimo contains the majority of the collection of the city of Rome, including the best Roman coin collection in the world, a jewelry collection, and Ancient Roman sculpture, paintings, and mosaics. The main exhibition concentrates on two revolutionary times in Roman history -- the conquest of Greece and the transformation from republic to empire. Palazzo Altemps The palatial Renaissance setting is an ideal backdrop for many items of the Cardinal Altemps' original collection, as well as pieces from the Ludovisi family collection and the city of Rome's Egyptian collection. Primarily a sculpture museum, the collection includes a series of sculpture busts, famous sculptures of Aphrodite including the famous 'Ludovisi Throne,' and important ancient sarcophagi. Crypta Balbi The Crypta Balbi is part of a theatre built by Lucio Cornelia Balbi in the first century BC. Balbi gained his wealth as a soldier for Julius Ceasar and Ottavius Augustus, bringing back plunder from a war in Africa. This remaining part of the theatre houses part of the National Museum of Rome, with sections dedicated to the history of this area of Rome and archeological studies from Medieval times. Baths of Diocletian Built to eclipse the earlier Baths of Caracalla, the Baths of Diocletian could accommodate twice as many bathers. Most of the complex has been destroyed, however, or incorporated into other building projects, such as Michelangelo's church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and part of the National Museum of Rome. Colosseum Construction of the Colosseum began in 72 AD by Vespasian. The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial combat, with people and wild animals from all over the world. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a fortress, and later years saw its use as a quarry for marble and travertine. Damaged by earthquakes, pollution, and theft, the Colosseum still stands tall as the symbol of Rome. Palatine One of the seven hills of Rome, the Palatine was home to the ruling elite of Rome. The remains of the House of Livia, the House of Augustus, the House of the Griffins, the Domus Flavia, the Domus Tiberiana, the Domus Flavia, the Domus Augustana and the Domus Severiana can all be visited. In fact, the word 'palace' comes from Palatine, because the hill was associated with so many rich dwellings. Baths of Caracalla The second largest baths in ancient Rome were built for the public between 212 and 219 AD. The baths consisted of bathing areas of various temperatures, exercise areas, massage rooms, and all the necessities for leisure, such as theatres, restaurants, and libraries. After the fall of Rome, this magnificent complex fell into disuse. Villa dei Quintili This villa just outside of Rome contains the remains of an extensive villa including baths, fountains, various out-buildings, and a residence. Emperor Commodus had the original owners executed so that he could use the property himself. Visitors can also view the remains of a 12th century castle on the property. Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella Cecilia Metella, wife of a powerful Roman nobleman, was buried in this monument in the first century BC. The mausoleum was preserved because it was converted and reused over the years -- it served as the castle around which a small village sprung up, a fortress, and in the 19th century it was used for scientific and astronomic experiments and duels.

Museums Pass, Venice

Looking to see the sights and museums of Venice? Choose the museum pass that is right for you! San Marco Square Pass: This pass includes the Doge's Palace, Museo Correr, Archaeological Museums and the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. This pass is ideal for the traveler who only has a day or two to spend in Venice. Museums Pass: For the traveler who has more time to explore Venice's treasures, the Venice Museums Pass is the right choice. This pass includes all of the San Marco Museums plus the Murano Glass Factory, Burano Lace Factory, Ca'Rezzonico, Palazzo Mocenigo, Carlo Goldoni's house, Ca' Pesaro and the Museum of Natural History - 11 great museums in all! Please find below a short description of each site: Doge's Palace The official house of government throughout most of Venice's Ducal history, the Doge's Palace has both historical and artistic appeal. The rooms of the palace are decorated by Venetian artists, such as Titian, Tiepolo, Veronese and Tintoretto. Please note that from February 4th until April 23rd, 2013, the 9 rooms comprising the Doge's apartment will be closed to the public to install the special exhibition "Manet. Return to Venice." Museo Correr The museum of Venetian History includes displays collections of armory and Venice's Naval History. The Correr also houses an impressive collection of Canova's sculptures. Museo Archeologico The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Venezia houses one of the most important collections of ancient Greek sculpture, including the famed statue of Leda and the Swan. The museum also displays ceramics, bronzes, gems and coins. Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Marciana The Biblioteca Marciana was designed by Jacopo Sansovia to house Greek and Latin codices donated to the Republic in 1468. The Monumental Rooms of the library now display the original edifice by Zecca, precious and rare manuscripts, and artwork by Tiziano, Veronese and Tintoretto. Ca Rezzonico This palace along the Grand Canal features 18th century Venetian paintings, including works by Luonghi, Tiepolo and Canaletto. Palazzo Mocenigo The palazzo at San Stae is dedicated to a collection of 18th century furnishings and painting, and houses the Center for Textiles and Costumes. House of Carlo Goldini Birthplace of the famous poet, Carlo Goldini, the Palazzo Centani now displays Venetian theatrical memorabilia and is home of the puppet theater from Ca'Grimani ai Servi. The palazzo also houses a large library of theatrical manuscripts and materials. Ca' Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art Palazzo Pesaro exhibits collections of 19th and 20th century paintings and sculpture by artists such as Klimt, Chagall, Matisse, and Kandinsky. Murano Glass Museum The Glass Museum, located in the Palazzo Giustiniani, displays both archaeological glass and a historical glass collection which shows the many eras of Murano glass production. Burano Lace Museum Displays detail the evolution of Venice's famous lace-making school and feature examples of exceptional quality. Museum of Natural History The palace of the Fontego dei Turchi, center of the Natural History Museum, was erected in the first half of the XIII century by the Pesaro family. The name is derived from the short period during which the building was the center of trade (Fontego = fondaco, warehouse) and diplomatic work between the Ottoman Empire and Venice.

Pitti Palace Galleries Tickets, Florence

The Galleria Palatina is located in the front rooms of the Pitti Palace in Florence's Oltrarno quarter. The more than 500 paintings in this gallery's vast collection stem mostly from the private collections of the Medici family. The Galleria Palatina has one of the most important collections of Raphael's works, including his celebrated Donna Velata. The works in the Palatine Gallery are arranged in accordance with the aesthetic criteria typical of 17th-century picture galleries, so today's visitor steps into the past upon entering this gallery. The Gallery of Modern Art holds over two thousand works providing a panorama of Tuscan art from the 18th to 20th century. Highlights of the collection include Antonio Canova's Neoclassical sculpture Head of Napoleon, an important collection of works by the Tuscan Macchiaioli painters (similar in style to the French Impressionists), and works by Italian Futurist Gino Severini. The paintings and sculptures are complimented by lavishly decorated rooms where generations of Medici, Lorraine and Savoy rulers dined, slept, entertained and received guests.

Palazzo Vecchio Tours, Florence

The Palazzo Vecchio is one of Florence's most famous buildings. Its clock tower is dramatically silhouetted against the sky as a symbol of the power of the Florentine Republic first, and the domination of the ruling Medici family in later centuries. More than 700 years after it was built, it still serves as Florence's City Hall. A visit to the Palazzo Vecchio is a must for any trip to Florence. Choose from one of our three interactive palace tours: Guided Tour This tour gives you an overview of the Palazzo Vecchio, which has undergone many alterations, expansions and reconstructions over the centuries, resulting in the final 'look' it has today. Highlight of this tour is a stroll around the guard walk – an external walkway at the top of the palace from which guards were able to oversee happenings in the palace's vicinity; the unobstructed, 360-degree views from up here are marvelous! Secret Itineraries Looking for intrigue and mystery? This tour takes you through secret staircases, hidden rooms and into the roof trusses of the palace's attic. A visit to the tiny Studiolo of Francesco I where he carried out alchemical experiments to turn base metals into gold is a special treat. Painting a Fresco Workshop Not a museum type? This workshop teaches you how to make your own fresco. Roll up your sleeves and start working on your next masterpiece in the midst of some of Florence's most famous fresco paintings, and then explore the palace to compare your work with the masters.

Christmas Season Masses at the Vatican

In celebration of the holiday season, the Pope presides over special masses on December 1st (Vespers of Advent), Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve Vespers, New Year's Day and the Feast of the Epiphany. The masses take place in St. Peter's Basilica with additional seating in the square. Join other pilgrims to see and hear the leader of the Catholic Church on some of the most important feast days of the Catholic year. Catholic or not, you'll find a Holiday Papal Mass a very special and memorable experience.

Papal Audience Tickets, Rome

Every Wednesday morning that the Pope is in residence in Rome, he addresses and blesses his many international visitors: in Piazza San Pietro on warmer days and inside the Sala Nervi during the winter. Join other pilgrims to see and hear the leader of the Catholic Church. Catholic or not, you'll find a Papal Audience a very special and memorable experience.

Boboli Gardens Tickets, Florence

Eleonora di Toledo, the Spanish-born wife of Cosimo I de' Medici, initiated the landscaping of the Boboli Gardens in 1549. Niccolo' Pericoli, called "il Tribolo," laid out the first axial development of the gardens, and Bartolomeo Ammanati and Giorgio Vasari took over upon his death. They extend over a vast area, forming an open-air museum filled with antique and Renaissance statues, grottoes, and large fountains. Entrance to the Boboli Gardens includes entrance to the Silver, Porcelain and Costume Galleries in the Pitti Palace. These galleries, a portion of which are housed in the former summer apartments of the Medici dukes, are now used to display period furniture, costumes, silverware, carved vases, amber, gems, cameos, Chinese and Japanese porcelain, and enamels. The ticket also includes entrance to the panoramic Giardino Bardini with access from both Via de' Bardi 1 (Piazza dei Mozzi) and Costa San Giorgio 2.

Accademia Galleries Tickets, Venice

The Galleria dell'Accademia displays the world's most important collection of paintings by the Venetian school in its monumental galleries on the Grand Canal. Masterpieces by Titian, Tintoretto, Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, Veronese and Tiepolo are hung on the walls of the former Scuola Grande di Santa Maria della Carita', a prestigious, fraternal lay order that is an integral part of Venice's illustrious history. A Renaissance church and a monastery built by the celebrated architect, Andrea Palladio, are also enclosed within the Galleria dell'Accademia. In the early 19th century, this complex was used to store the artistic heritage of Venice after the suppression of its monasteries, churches and guilds under Napoleonic and Austrian rule. It opened as a public museum in 1866. The museum's collection spans five centuries, and covers the Medieval, Byzantine, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Giovanni Bellini's mesmerizing "Enthroned Madonna" and Veronese's immense canvas of the "Feast in the House of Levi" are alone worth the price of admission to the Galleria dell'Accademia, a must-see on any visit to Venice.

Brera Art Gallery Tickets, Milan

The Pinacoteca di Brera is Milan's most outstanding museum and is considered one of the most prestigious art collections of the world. The collection was founded by the Austrian Hapsburgs in the late 18th century. Napoleon dramatically enlarged the collection as he planned for Milan to become a major European capital. Once Napoleon was defeated, the art works remained in Milan instead of being redistributed to the original owners. The patrons of the collections believed that a museum should benefit the whole community, and thus preserved it for visitors. Recently, two large collections of Modern Art have expanded the collection.

Cathedral Combo Pass, Siena

A single ticket for an unforgettable itinerary through the most magnificent sites clustered around Siena's immense Gothic cathedral. Six monuments in the heart of the medieval city - all with prepaid tickets and no waiting in line! Enjoy the flexibility of an entrance for the most important sacred sites in Siena ticket that is valid for 3 days. The Siena Cathedral Combo Pass allows you to skip the lines at these museums and sites and is a great value, generating savings of 50% on the cost of the single admissions. The Pass allows entrance to the following six sites in Siena: The Duomo, including the Piccolomini Library Crypt Baptistery of San Giovanni Museo dell'Opera, including the world-famous Maesta' by Duccio Facciatone with its panoramic terrace Oratory of San Bernardino Please find below a short description of each site: The Duomo Siena cathedral is a rich treasure trove of Tuscan art. It was built from 1215 to 1263, involving Gothic master Nicola Pisano as architect at some point. Nicola's splendid marble pulpit - a masterpiece of Medieval sculpture - stands in the left transept, while 3-dimensional statues by Donatello, Michelangelo and Gianlorenzo Bernini are scattered throughout the church. The Piccolomini Library, painted by Pinturicchio in 1509, is charming Renaissance fairytale with colorful frescoes from the life of Pope Pius - even the cathedral's 14,000 square foot inlaid marble floor is a work of art! Crypt Beneath the cathedral is the latest artistic discovery in Siena: a room widely referred to as the "crypt," although no bodies have been found buried here. Most likely this subterranean room (open to the public only since 2004) is an entrance to the previous church. It boasts a fresco cycle painted between 1270 and 1275 by a yet unidentified master. The vibrant blue, gold, and burgundy colors of these frescoes have been impressively preserved, thanks to the lack of light and humidity in this part of the church, entirely interred since the 1300s. Baptistery of San Giovanni Tucked away underneath the Duomo, down a steep flight of steps, is the separate building housing the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Here you can admire the splendid bronze and marble baptismal font, the utmost expression of Early Renaissance sculpture on which Jacopo della Quercia, Donatello and Lorenzo Ghiberti all worked. Museo dell'Opera The ambitious Sienese started building a much bigger cathedral in 1339, but a plague hit the city soon after and the plan came to nothing. One side of the unfinished nave was eventually roofed over and now houses the Duomo Museum. Its ground floor is devoted to sculpture from the cathedral's exterior, including Gothic statues by Giovanni Pisano (1250-1315) that had become eroded outside. The world-famous Maesta' by Duccio di Buoninsegna - the largest altarpiece ever painted - has a room to itself. Painted between 1308-11 and placed on the high altar of the Duomo, it depicts an elegant Enthroned Madonna and Child presiding over a bevy of saints -- the use of pure gold leaf and costly lapis lazuli is dazzling. Facciatone End your visit to the museum with a climb up to the panoramic terrace of the unfinished Duomo. From the Facciatone (literally, the "big face"), you will witness the most fascinating and unforgettable bird's-eye view over Siena and the Tuscan countryside. Don't forget your camera to take pictures from this amazing observation point! Oratory of San Bernardino The Siena Cathedral Complex Pass also includes admission to the perfectly preserved Oratory of San Bernardino in Piazza San Francesco; this little building constitutes the most extraordinary art complex of sixteenth-century Siena.

Secret Itineraries of Siena Cathedral

For the first time in history, a series of walkways, hidden spiral staircases and indoor and outdoor balconies atop Siena's fantastic, zebra-striped Gothic cathedral have been opened to the public. Through October 27th, visitors may join a small group guided tour led by an English-speaking guide to access parts of the building that have been closed to all but the building's architects for over 700 years! You will ascend the two towers that flank the church via private spiral staircases, bringing you excitingly close to the starry sky frescoes on the Duomo's vault. The tour also provides a bird's eye view of the inlaid marble mosaic floor, as well as crossing the walkway over the main altar so that Duccio's splendid stained glass rose window can be viewed from a unique vantage point. You will then descend the spiral stairs and continue the tour of the Cathedral's main floor with all its statues by Donatello, Michelangelo and Gianlorenzo Bernini scattered throughout the church. This and more can be admired on this unforgettable, 1 1/2 hour tour of the Duomo and it is sure to be the highlight of your visit to Siena!

Ara Pacis Museum Tickets, Rome

The Ara Pacis, or Altar of Augustan Peace, is considered to be one of the highest examples of classical art ever produced. Built in 13 B.C. to honor the return of the Roman Emperor Augustus from the provinces of Gaul and Spain, it was adorned with beautiful marble relief panels depicting a stately procession of priests and members of the imperial family, led by Augustus himself. However, the original location close to the Tiber River meant that frequent flooding caused the destruction of the altar and all memory of it was lost. Rediscovery of the monument occurred in the 16th century but it wasn't until 1937, to celebrate the two-thousandth anniversary of the birth of Augustus, that archaeologist Giuseppe Moretti recomposed the altar. A hastily built glass pavilion was erected just so Mussolini could inaugurate the restored Ara Pacis on September 23rd, 1938; the start of World War II meant that this temporary structure was not replaced for another 70 years. By 2006 the sculptural reliefs were so badly deteriorated by pollution from automobile exhaust and rainwater that had seeped in over the decades that it was decided to commission the celebrated American architect Richard Meier to design a new building to house the Ara Pacis. This striking but controversial post-modern building in travertine and glass is often used for temporary exhibitions, while the sublime Augustan relief carvings are always on display. They are bathed in diffused, natural light streaming in from skylights that enhances their visibility and allows visitors to admire the amazing naturalism and attention to detail of these reliefs.

Archeological Museum Tickets, Florence

The Archaeological Museum is one of Florence's hidden gems, housing a large and impressive collection of Egyptian and Etruscan, as well as Greek and Roman artifacts and art. The collection originally began with the Medici who were fascinated by Italy's early inhabitants, the Etruscans. As archaeology reached its heyday in the 1800's, the collection was added to by Italy's wealthiest families. Most notable among the collection is the Roman statue, Idolino, and the Francois Vase, considered by many to be the equivalent of a genealogy of Greek mythology. Also, visit the museum's collection of Egyptian mummies and the reconstruction of a 2nd century Etruscan tomb.

Bargello Museum Tickets, Florence

After serving for many centuries as a prison and police station, the fortress-like Bargello was transformed into the National Museum of Sculpture in 1886 - on Donatello's five-hundredth birthday. The Bargello's courtyard, loggia and frescoed rooms are filled with marble and bronze masterpieces by Donatello, Michelangelo, Cellini, Bernini and others. Particularly important to the history of Florence are two bronze panels of the Sacrifice of Isaac by Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi for the competition to decorate the doors of the Baptistry. Had Brunelleschi won this contest, he might not have gone on to design the great dome of the Duomo of Florence.

Brancacci Chapel Tickets, Florence

The Brancacci Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine is a landmark in the history of Renaissance art. Commissioned by a wealthy Florentine silk merchant in the 1420s, the chapel was painted with frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino depicting the life of St. Peter and the theme of redemption. In later years, the chapel suffered at the hands of the Florentine government when its patron, Felice Brancacci, was exiled and declared an enemy of the state. The "Damnatio Memoriae" was executed, and the faces of the chapel's patrons were destroyed, only to be restored by Filippino Lippi fifty years later. A disastrous fire in the late 1700's blackened the frescoes until they could hardly be seen; they were restored in 1981-90. Masaccio's works, including the painfully expressive Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, have inspired the great artists of the High Renaissance, including Michelangelo. Your visit not only includes a chance to view these famous frescoes, but your own personal tablet to explain their history and restoration.

Ca' d'Oro (Franchetti Gallery) Tickets, Venice

Named for its original gold-detailed facade, the Ca' d'Oro (Golden House) is a jewel of Gothic palace architecture on the Grand Canal. It was designed for the Contarini family in 1421 by Giovanni and Bartolemeo Bon, the same architects who worked on the Doge's Palace. Without the gilding, the three levels of tracery arches and merlons on the facade look like delicate lace, making the Ca' d'Oro one of the most striking and recognizable palaces on the Grand Canal. The wealthy art collector, Baron Giorgio Franchetti, lived here in the late 19th century and upon his death, he bequeathed the restored palace and his personal art collection to the Italian state. Now known as the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti, the museum has retained the intimate character of a private collection. It displays precious paintings and sculpture by Giorgione, Andrea Mantegna, Bernini, Giambologna and Van Dyck, among others.

Ca' Rezzonico Tickets, Venice

To visit the Ca' Rezzonico is to truly understand life in Venice in the 18th century. This beautiful palace along the Grand Canal was home to the Rezzonico family and the future Pope Clement XIII. Known for its ceiling paintings, Ca' Rezzonico currently houses a large collection of works by artists such as Giambattista Tiepolo, Giovan Battista Crosato, Pietro Visconti and Pietro Longhi. Among the highlights of the palace's artwork are the Ballroom's ceiling fresco by Crosato, depicting Apollo traveling between the continents, and the Nuptial Allegory Room with frescoes by Tiepolo. Tiepolo's Allegory of Merit and a collection of Murano Glass are later additions to the museum.In the 19th century, the Ca' Rezzonico became a home and studio to many artists such as John Singer Sargent and Robert Barrett Browning, whose father, poet Robert Browning died there.

Centrale Montemartini Museum Tickets, Rome

The polished turbines and archaic engines of Rome's first municipal electric plant, which opened in 1912, make for fascinating modern sculpture, especially when set against the ancient sculpture now on display here -- 400 antique marble and bronze works from the rich collection of the Capitoline Museums. This abandoned factory was converted into a museum in 1997 during the restructuring of the Capitoline Museum complex. At that time, the exhibition The Machines and the Gods was created to display side by side two diametrically opposed worlds, those of classical art and of industrial archeology. In an atmospheric game of contrasts, the old machinery of electricity production is the backdrop for masterpieces of ancient sculpture arranged in four interconnecting galleries: the Atrium, the Columned Hall, the Machine Hall and the Boiler Room. The display reconstructs some of the great monumental complexes of Ancient Rome and illustrates the development of the city from the Republican era to the late imperial age. Centrale Montemartini is also used to showcase the Capitoline Museum's most recent acquisitions, making repeated visits to this fascinating site a must for anyone with an interest in Ancient Rome.

Clock Tower Guided Tour, Venice

The Moors' Clock Tower is one of the most famous architectural landmarks in Venice, standing over an arch that leads into what is the main shopping street of the city, the old Merceria. The Tower and its large Zodiac Clock, a masterpiece of technology and engineering, form an essential part of the very image of Venice. For more than five hundred years, they have measured out the flow of life and history within the city.Visitors will climb the five levels of the Clock Tower, accompanied by an English speaking guide, to view the inner workings of one of Venice's most recognizable landmarks and one of the greatest views of Piazza San Marco. Entrance ticket also includes entrance (unguided) to the Museo Correr, the National Archaelogical Museum and the State Rooms of the Biblioteca Marciana.

MACRO Museum Tickets, Rome

Contemporary art shakes up the Eternal City! In the neighborhood around the Porta Pia in the northeast of Rome the multi-faceted cultural complex of the Museum of Contemporary Art is born. It is a compelling example of an "industrial archeology" that promotes the reuse and renovation of abandoned factory buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries: in fact, it combines the ex-Peroni brewery with a striking new wing by leading French architect, Odile Decq. The sheer size and spatial distribution of the complex makes it ideally suited to host important national and international exhibitions. In addition, MACRO's permanent collection offers a selection of the most significant expressions of the Italian art scene from the 1960s until the present day. Artists such as Carla Accardi, Piero Dorazio and Ettore Colla (Forma 1 group), Tano Festa, Mario Schifano and Mimmo Rotella (Scuola di Piazza del Popolo) and Mario Ceroli and Pino Pascali (Arte Povera) are displayed alongside exponents of more recent trends like Astrazione Povera and video art. The museum contains a bookshop, media library, video resource center, conference room and education center, as well as the stylish MACRO 138 Restaurant in collaboration with Gambero Rosso and a multi-level rooftop garden with an outdoor cafe'.

Medici Chapels Tickets, Florence

The Medici Chapels, attached to the apse of the church of San Lorenzo but accessed from the Piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini, consist of three separate parts: the Crypt containing the tombs of about 50 lesser members of the Medici family; The Chapel of the Princes where the Medici Grand Dukes are buried in over-life-sized sarcophagi; and the so-called "New Sacristy," Michelangelo's unfinished Mannerist masterpiece that he worked on from 1520-1534. The ground floor Crypt serves as an anteroom to the other two burial chambers above. First comes the grandiose but gloomy Chapel of the Princes, begun in 1604 and encrusted with the semi-precious stone and marble inlay known as pietre dure. Rare and costly stones like coral, jasper, onyx, amethyst and tiger's eye adorn the interior, however, the Medici ran out of money before enough lapis lazuli could be purchased to cover the vast, octagonal dome and it was finally frescoed in 1824. Michelangelo's New Sacristy is much more restful: the color scheme is predominately gray and white because the colorful wall paintings that the great artist had planned were never executed. Neither was the double tomb for Lorenzo the Magnificent and his slain brother, Giuliano. Contemplative statues of another Lorenzo (duke of Urbino) and Giuliano (duke of Nemours) sit in niches on the side walls. Below them stretch Dawn (female) and Dusk (male), Day (male) and Night (female). These six statues are among Michelangelo's most famous works. In them he uses both high polish and rough cutting to impart strength, texture and psychological intensity.

Monastery of San Marco Tickets, Florence

Over 50 fresco paintings by Fra Angelico decorate the walls of San Marco. Angelico, who resided at this Dominican monastery between 1438 and 1445, painted scenes of the Annunciation and stories from the life of Christ, offering a sense of timelessness and tranquility to guide his fellow friars in their private meditations. Walk through the beautiful monastery designed by Michelozzo to discover a world of Florentine history and art. A portrait of the hawk-nosed Savonarola by Fra Bartolomeo marks the suite of rooms where the prior and sponsor of the Bonfire of the Vanities once lived, while Ghirlandaio's Last Supper graces the wall of the refectory.

Palazzo Ducale Tickets, Mantova

Home of the Gonzaga family from 1328 to 1707, the Palazzo Ducale is a marvel of medieval architecture and artistry. Throughout their reign over Mantova, the Gonzagas added on to the original 13th century structure and created a complex of castles, palaces and basilicas. The current palace includes over 500 rooms, including a Zodiac Room, Hall of Mirrors, Apartment of Paradise, River Chamber, and Apartment of Troy. In the 1400s, Lodovico II created a cultural center where artists such as Donatello, Mantegna, Leon Battista Alberti, Luca Fancelli could collaborate and create. Recent excavations at the palace have unearthed Medieval murals by Pisanello depicting chivalric knights jousting. The crowning work of the palace is Andrea Mantegna's Camera degli Sposi capped by one of Mantegna's best known works, a painted dome depicting angels peering down from the clouds.

Palazzo Valentini Tickets, Rome

Take a captivating journey through time at the Domus Romane, a 20,000 square foot complex with two 4th century AD patrician villas and the remains of a private thermal bath situated next to Trajan's Forum in the heart of Imperial Rome. Sophisticated multimedia reconstructions featuring computer-generated projections and realistic light and sound effects plunge spectators into Roman life as it was lived almost 1,700 years ago. A wealth of mosaics, polychrome wall veneers, fountains and frescoes attests to the high rank of the villa's owners, who were probably magistrates or senators. Archaeologists stumbled on the villas in 2005 during repair work on the underground areas of the 16th-century Palazzo Valentini, the seat of Rome's Provincial Administration. Because of the fragmentary state of the ruins, videos are used to reconstruct not only what the villas may have looked like but also scenes from daily life in ancient Rome - crowds cheering victorious centurions, a glimpse of a chaotic food market and a mugging in a dimly lighted back alley. At the tour's end, visitors spill out into Trajan's Forum after passing through a series of tunnels and air-raid shelters dating from 1939.

Peggy Guggenheim Museum Tickets, Venice

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is recognized as one of Europe's premier museums dedicated to European and American art of the first half of the 20th century. This fascinating and eccentric collection is located in Venice's Grand Canal (precisely in Palazzo Venier dai Leoni), where the heiress Guggenheim herself lived for nearly 30 years. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection displays artwork from different sources, such as the "Permanent Collection" of Peggy Guggenheim, the Nasher Sculpture Garden (which presents sculptures that complement the permanent collection), the Gianni Mattioli Collection, and other works belonging to the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation. The museum represents an outstanding combination between traditional and modern art. It also holds major works of different artistic movements (such as Cubism, Futurism, Surrealism, Expressionism, etc.) created by some of the greatest modern artists.

Siena's Palio: The 400-year-old Thrilling Horse Race

The Palio occurs just twice each summer, on July 2nd and August 16th, and the pure excitement of this festival that has survived almost intact from the Middle Ages is unequaled in Italy. Share in the excitement by booking a reserved seat in the beautiful, shell-shaped Campo and choose just how close to the action you wish to be. You'll have a great view of the historical parade in which the costumed members of the 17 medieval contrade, or city wards, parade through the piazza along with their assigned horse and the sbandieratori (flag throwers) who launch their colorful banners into the air. Then, at the stroke of 7 p.m., the ten chosen horses line up at the starting line and the race begins -- three laps around the piazza; don't blink or you might miss it because this thrilling, bareback race lasts only 90 seconds! For the citizens of Siena, the Palio is all about neighborhood pride and rivalry, and it is the continuation of a centuries-old tradition associated with religion and honor. Who will prove victorious? Which lucky horse will be the town hero? Root for your favorite contrada and absorb the rare atmosphere of Siena during its annual horse race!

Torino + Piemonte Cards, Turin

Torino+Piemonte Card hands you the keys to the city... and the whole Region! Discover the amazing beauties of Torino and Piemonte in an easy and economical way, with 2, 3 and 5-day Cards. The Card includes: Free admission to more than 190 cultural sites: museums, monuments, exhibitions, fortresses, castles and Royal Residences in Torino and Piemonte. Free travel on the city's tourist transportation (panoramic lift in the Mole Antonelliana, Sassi - Superga rack tramway), boats sailing down the Po river, and the shuttle bus Venaria Express. The Card also includes a discount on the City Sightseeing Torino panoramic bus and reduced fare on Sadem buses connecting the airport to the city center. Please note that the card does NOT include the city's public transportation, subway or trains. The sevice "Trenibus" - which connects the airport to the city - is also NOT included.